Integrated Approach to Soccer Training: Developing a Working Model

Over the last decade, one of the most debatable subjects among football science & technical practitioners is the importance of designing a structured weekly plan to combat the physical, technical, tactical & psychological requirements of the game. 

Efthymios, (2019) suggested an abundance of methods, structures & tips have been recommended by experienced specialists in the football area in recent reports.

However, in this report we will try to briefly define, and outline the most essential key aspects that coaches, physios & performance practitioners should include in their thought processing when developing or designing a specific drill or coaching session. 

It has been suggested the four most important parameters when designing a training microcycle & the weekly plan should follow & cohere to the following:

1. Be cognisant of the style of play, or have the Game Model of the team at the forefront (tactical strategy, unit & individual roles & responsibilities, game plan, collective tactics in and out of possession)
2. The physical capacity or physiological factors (what are we expecting from our players within the game tactically from a physical perspective)
3. The current seasonal phase (are we in the preseason, early season, are we encountering fixture congestion periods?)
4. Management of the squad (do we think ahead? Players capacity to reproduce outcomes, demands on players, psychological & physical, rotation potential?)

The use of an integrated coaching model where we are capable of training in such a way that we can develop physical, technical & tactical qualities within the same session is not only a way of being more efficient with our time on the pitch, but we are capable of then enabling our players to engage in a holistically coaching process that maximises development.